Back to School

So I started a new job way back on August 13th and I am just now getting to blogging about it.  I am a three year old assistant teacher for one of the early learning centers here in Bowling Green.  I absolutely love it, its not easy by any means but I really love it.  The hours are perfect 8:30 until 2:30 Monday through Friday.  The program runs on the county school schedule so I get a week off in the Spring and Fall as well as Winter and Summer break.  Plus all Holidays.  Zoë comes with me and is in the one year old (due to when her birthday falls) class room directly across the hall.

The days fly by and it has really been a challenge to balance it all but its well worth it.

I am beyond amazed by the three year olds in my class.  It crazy to think Zoë is only a year away from that.  I can not believe how clever and creative they are!

First Day of School!

Warning this will make you dizzy

Zoë loves to video herself as well as look at herself in the mirror.  It has been fun to see what she videos when I had her my phone.

Dancing

Around the house

Chattanooga

Last weekend we headed south for a visit in Georgia to see Na Na and Pop.  When we can we usually head to Chattanooga for some fun.  This time we really had a lot of fun at some places we have not been to before.  First we hit the Zoo.  The Chattanooga Zoo is small but really neat, it had some really cool creatures.  Zoë walked the entire Zoo all on her own no stroller and rarely had to be carried.  A couple times when we were just on the other side of the glass from a Jaguar or Cheetah she would say "I scared" and want to be held for a minute then she would say "Wowie down".

The best family photo :(

Derek's highlight for the weekend was a trip to Champy's chicken.  He claims it is the best fried chicken he has ever had.  Since he is the one from the south and also has eaten much more meat in his lifetime then I have I will take his word.  Bernie's on NE Alberta in Portland is still my favorite.  Any who the place had a great vibe and beer is served in 40 oz. size with a 40 oz. coozie which was very fun.  Zoë of course had a blast and as usual ate her weight in food.

That night Derek and I got to have a date night.  After dinner we watched a bike race that was a 24 hour race.  These dude's were going very fast especially considering they were about 18 hours in.

It was a great weekend and we had lots of fun but it must have worn us out as we all came home sick.

Tomato Festival Nashville Tenn.

As previously mentioned we did attend the East Nasty Tomato Festival.  We were accompanied by Ben, Brandy, and Ezra.  It has been a couple years since we have been and it sure has grown.  There was a lot of pretty art to look at and lots of fun people to watch.  We had Z in the stroller and I apologize to all those feet I ran over.  Her walking was out of the question and it was pretty hot for the backpack.

We were all pretty hungry soon after we arrived so we headed to Drifters and found a great table outside, then after what seemed like an eternity of no service and a hot sun beating down on us we found another great table inside.  We finally got to order our food and eventually got it, and it was super yummy!  The wait staff was great and they were super busy so I felt bad for them.  The whole food ordeal took 2 hours and I was pooped after it was all done.  Keeping my crazy wild child entertained and sitting in one spot for 2 hours past her nap time was about all I could take.  Then when we stepped outside to change diapers and load the kids in the strollers, we all thought we heard Jack White on the stage about a block away.  Now he is known to hang out in that neighborhood and he resides some where in the Nashville area so this was not far fetched to be true.  Upon arrival to the stage we find out that no it is not at all Jack White but defiantly sounds a lot like him.

We got loaded in the car and Z was asleep within minutes.

freedom after lunch

Her favorite part of the day, walking along the curb all the way to the car

Painting with water

One of my favorite crafts is getting out the crate paper, small dish of water, and paint brushes.  This keeps Z happy for a while and she loves when I "Paint" with her.  Another great thing is we can use the same crate paper over and over again.

Running a 5K on Turkey Day

So I figure if I put my plan to run the Turkey Day 5K on here I will hold myself to it and push myself harder.  Karla and I ran every morning this last week and although I have a long way to go it feels good to get started and have someone to help me keep going.  I ran some before I got pregnant with Z but I have been having a harder time getting back into it.  It is a little more difficult pushing a stroller while running but I do have Zoë saying: "More run." when I slow to a walk or stop.

My favorite running buddy

The girls getting their workout in after ours

Who likes Tomatoes? We Do!

One of the local farms her in Bowling Green (Need More Acres) hosted the 2nd annual TomatoFest.  This idea stemmed from the East Nashville TomatoFest that we will also be attending in August.  This festival was free of charge and they had a ton of venders sampling delicious food all using Heirloom Tomatoes about 50 feet away from where the food was being served.  It was all so go but the Ice Cream was mine and Zoë's favorite.  YAY for ice cream with no eggs!  Derek liked the cornbread, its like he is from Georgia or something, crazy.  They also had a tasting station with a ton of different varieties of Heirlooms.  One of the local artist and some festival attendees in all ages helped paint a huge tomato mural on the side of the barn.  And of course we are in Kentucky so it would not be complete with out some Bluegrass being played on the front porch.  Zoë's favorite part was blowing bubbles and watching the chickens.  It is so beautiful out there and I am so sad I did not take more photos.